Prepayment fluid-meter.



. Patented m 9, mm. w. 5. mass. PBEPA-YMENT FLUID METER.

(A pliation med Sept. 13 1900. p 4 Sheets-Sheei I.

w i w I I I I r I a r I 5 5 I w a r I 5 I No. 677,974. 1 Patented July 9, l90l.

Y W. E. GIBBS.

PBEPAYMENT FLUID "5153- Y w. E. mass. PREPAYMENT FLUlD METER.

Paton-ted July 9, I901.

4 Sheets-Sheet a.

r mam filed Sept. 13, 1900. (No llodol.)

JNVENTOR.

n/rrnlessss- No. 677,974. Patented July 9, 19m.

w. E. mass. 7

PBEPAYIENT FLUID METER.

(Application filed Sept. 18, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 sheetsrshaat 4.

HGZQ/ 1 C6 o o 6 7 0 o 0 THE uonnls Pzrzncol'. mow-Lima. WASHINGTON n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIc WILLIAM E. GIBBS. OEFANWOOD, NEwJE s Y, Ass GNoR TO ALEXANDER o. HUMPHREYS AND ARTHUR G. GLASGOW, OF NEW YORK, N.Y., (TRAD- ING UNDER FIRM NAME OF HUMPI-IREYS '& GLASGOW.)

PREPA'YMENT FLUID-M ETER.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,974, dated. July 9, 1901.

Application filed September 13, 1900. Serial No. 29,867. (No model.) I

My invention relates to prepayment fluid-.

meters, such as are used, for instance, in the distribution of gas; and the object of my in vention is to at once simplify the construction I of the prepayment mechanism and give it a construction which will insure in great measure its correct and safe operation.

The essential feature of myinvention consists in the application to mechanism for opening and closing the fluid-conduit leading to the meter of devices in the nature of a Geneva stop-motion, of which a coin of proper size forms an essential element.

How my inventionlis best embodied and 2 5 with what devices securing. it against improper manipulations it is provided will be best understood as described in connection with the drawings, in which my invention is illustrated, and in which Figure 1 is a front view of a gas-meter having my device attached to it. Fig. 2 is an elevation taken on the section-line 2 2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a cross'sectional' elevation taken on the section-line 3 3 of Fig. 6. Fig. 4 is a plan view taken on the section-line 4 4 of Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a detail shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an elevation taken onthe section-line 6 6 of Fig. 4.. Fig. 7 is a, crosssectional elevation taken on the section-line o 7 70f Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a front elevation taken on the section-lines 8 of Fig. l. Fig. 9 is a side elevation taken on the section-line 9 9 of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a'perspecti-ve view of a rotatable plug-cock casing used in'connection with my devicein the construction illustrated; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the plug-cock. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the slotted drum which receives and moves the coin. Fig. 13 is a plan view showing the end of the shaft 0 and the gear-wheels connected therewith. Fig. 14 is an elevation taken on the section-line 14. 14 of Fig. 13 and showing the rear of the two wheels Q and P.

A, Fig. 1, indicates the gas-meter, which is of usualconstruction, B indicating the recording-dials of the meter and O a worm driven by the mechanism in the meter and in turn driving a shaft 0', which shaft, as shown, (see Figs. 4 and 6,) is hollow and has its ends supported on the stud O grooved as indi- 6o 'cated at 0 the hollow shaft 0 being kept from longitudinal movement on the plug by a setscrew 0 projecting into the groove.

0 is a gear-wheel secured on the end of the shaft G and contained in a chamber 0 partially formed by and normally closed by the removable cap-O heldin place at bottom, as shown, by a pin 0 (see Fig. 6) and at top by a lock-bolt passing through the eyes, (indicated at 0 7 Any convenient mechanism for opening and closing the fluid-conduit leading to the metermay be used in connection with my invention. As shown, I have illustrated my 7 invention in connection with the throttling mechanism described and shown in Greens patent, No. 606,625, of J une 28, 1898, with certain modifications adapting said mechanism 7 for my purposes.

To resume the description of the drawings, D indicates a casting having formed in it the chamber D,adapted to receive the stop-wheel Fr -and gear-wheel G to be hereinafter'described.

D is a chamber formed in the casting and connecting with the chamber D", said chamber D being adapted to receive the drum 1.

D is a third chamber formed in the casting, adapted to receive the stud O and'its continuationthe worm wheel 0. From the 0 bottom of the'chamber D extends anopening D through which the coin fallsinto a receptacle M, d indicating a perforated lug adapted to register with a perforation in a lug M of the removable receptacle, the re- 5 ceptacle being held in place through the action of alock, as indicated in Fig. 1.

D (see Fig. 4) indicates a bearingfor one of the projecting studs upon which the drum I is supported. 10o

D indicates a slot in the top of the chamber D through which the coin is inserted.

D (see Figs. 1, 4, and 7) is an opening in the front of the casting D, across which extends the bar indicated at D E indicates a second casting forming with the casting D the various chambers of the apparatus, E indicating the flanges and abutting parts where the casting E comes in IO contact with and is secured to the casting D.

E indicates the part of the casting E which forms the rear wall of the chamber D, E indicating a bearing formed in the wall for the rear projecting stud, on which the drum I is supported, and E (see Fig. 3) indicating a slot formed through this wall, through which coins rejected as of insufficient size are shunted.

E is a chamber at the rear of the casing E,

in communication with the conduit E as shown in Fig. 7, and, through a conical bearing a with an internal chamber E", which communicates with a conduit E e indicates a conical bearing on the side of the chamber E opposite to that provided with abearinge F may be described as a hollow rotatable plug-cock. Its smaller end opens into the chamber E, and it is provided with circum- 0 ferential bearing-surfaces which fit against the bearings e and e, and is also on its inner facesprovided with the conical bearing-faces, (indicated at F and F F indicates a stop-motion wheel of the kind familiar in the Geneva stop motion, said wheel'being, as shown, formed on a prolongation of the rotatable plug-cock F.

F indicates a lateral opening through the wall of the cock F, connecting its interior 40 with the chamber E and F is an annular prolongation of the cock F,on which,as shown a scale of numerals is marked, a projecting pin f occupying the position of the zero in the scale.

Gr is the plug-cock, working in the hollow rotatable plug-cock F. It consists, as shown, of two conical portions (indicated at G and G which bear on the conical bearings F and F of the hollow cock F, the smaller end G being open and the two bearing-surfaces being connected by a longitudinally-extending cross-bar G fitting against the inside of the cock F and adapted to register with and close the slot F when the cock G is turned to proper position.

Gr indicates an annular prolongation of the plug-cock G, to which is secured or on which is formed the worm-w heel G which,as shown, is formed with a slot G, lying opposite to the scaled face F of the cock F.

g indicates a stop projection from the rear side of the wheel G adapted to be engaged by the stop-pin) on the cock F.

g (see Fig. 4) indicates a pin-receiving perforation; H, a pin resting in said perforation and having a head 11, which rests against the center of the cross-bar D 7t indicating a spring acting against said head H and against a plug-cock G to thrust it into the conical bearings of the hollow cock F.

I indicates a drum situated in the chamber D and having from its opposite faces the projecting studs 1 and 1 which form its bearings. The bearing-stud I is slotted at the end, as indicated at 71 Fig. 4, so that it may be engaged with a device in the nature of a cyclometer, (indicated at N,) whereby the rotations of the drum can be recorded, and the bearing stud I having attached to it the hand-wheel, (indicated at 2".) The drum I, as shown, has an edge groove, (indicated at 1,) so as to afiord clearance for the worm-wheel G Near its opposite end it is provided with a series of detent-openings (indicated at I") which are preferably arranged symmetrically, except at two points--that is to say, the detent-opening 1 (see Fig. 12,) which is intended to engage the ratchet-pawl when the druni is in coin-receiving position, is placed at a somewhat greater distance from the adjacent perforations 1 than the adjacent perforations I are distant from each other. Again, the perforations I are on the opposite side of the drum intermitted for a distance, as indicated at 1 this intermitted portion of the ratchet lying beneath the pawl when the drum is turned to the position where it should deliver its coin, permitting considerable freedom of backward and forward movement at this point.

1 indicates a circumferential groove approximately at the center of the drum I, and 1 is the coin-receiving slot, extending transversely through the drum I in an oblique direction, as best shown in Fig. 3, this slot havinga narrowed portion,(indicated at1l Whereon the coin of proper dimensions is arrested, and a narrow extension (indicated at 1 through which coins of less than determined size are rejected and permitted to fall out through the slot E 1 (see Fig. 5) is a perforation extending radially from the bottom of the groove I toward the slot 1 with which it communicates through a narrowed extension '5.

1 is a pin-hole extending from the side of the drum I, through which a locking-pin is inserted into the perforation 1.

J is a plug moving in the perforation I" and having an extension J of smaller diameter, which projects into the extension 2'". The plug J has a reduced neck, as indicated at J and the spring J normally holds it in the position indicated-that is to say, with its face flush with the bottom of the groove 1 and its extension J flush with the side of the slot 1 J is a stop-pin extending through the perforation l and serving to arrest the plug in the position shown in Fig. 10 while permitting it to move backward, so as to project into the groove 1 on pressure being applied to its face.

K (see Fig. 8) is a ratchet-pawl pressed by a spring K against the ratchet portion 1 of the drum I.

L (see Fig. 2) is a ratchet-pawl pressed by a spring against the bottom of the groove 1 in the drum I, the point of the pawl being of such size and so placed as to enter the perforation 1 when it is not protected by the plug J.

L is a spring attached to and extending from the pawl L and supporting on its end a stop-block, (indicated at L M has already been described as the coinreceiver, and N is a cyclometer-recorder.

0 (see Figs. 6 and 7) is a rotating cylindrical plug supported on journals in the chamber D and having formed on it the worm, (indicated at O,) which engages with the wormwheel G The bearing 0 of the worm-plug 0 extends into the chamber 0 and serves as a bearing for the loosely-mounted gear-wheel 'P, beyond which it has attached to it the gear-wheel indicated at Q. The gear-wheel P (see Figs. 9, 13, and 14) has a portion of its teeth omitted, as indicated at P, and has projecting from its outer face two stop-pins, (indicated at P and P The gear-wheel Q, which is secured by its hub Q on the shaft 0 has a portion of its teeth omitted, as shown at Q is provided with a fixed stop Q projecting toward the wheel P and so as to be engaged by the stop P and at the same radial distance from the center of the wheel it is also provided with a series of pin-receiving holes Q R indicates a perforated hub adapted to slip over the projecting hub Q of the wheel Q and formed with a pin-supporting arm R, from which extends a pin R which can be inserted into any of the holes Q, as shown in Figs. 9 and 13.

S (see Fig. 9) is a spring-stop acting in connection with the teeth of the wheel Q to prevent it from being moved in a reverse direction. Both of the wheels P and Q are normally engaged by the gear-wheel 0 as shown in Figs. 6 and 9.

I may say here that the mutilated-wheel construction, as indicated, is not a part of my invention, but is, in fact, an invention of Henry Green. (Shown in his Patent No. 651,481, of June 12, 1900.)

The operation of my device may be described as follows: The parts being normally in position shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 8, rotation of the drum backward is prevented by the engagement of the ratchet-pawl K with the perforation 11 and rotation forward is immediately checked by the engagement of the pawl L with the perforation 1 a plunger J yielding to the pressure of the pawl and permitting it to enter the perforation. After backward rotation has been checked it is,however, advisable to bring the slot I back into registry with the slot D as the pawl K has not engaged any other perforation afterleaving the perforation i A coin of proper size being dropped through the slot D into the slot 1 is held in said slot, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the side of the coin resting against the end pin J. The drum being rotated toward the stop-wheel F, the edge of whichlies in the groove 1 as shown, the pawl L will pass over the perforation I, as the plug tact with the stop L which can be held in the position indicated by any convenient means as well as those indicated. After being so stopped the drum I may be moved backward to bring the coin into position to fall into the receptacle N by reason of the blank portion 1 of the ratchet-detents being then opposite to the pawl K. After dropping the coin the drum may be further revolved until its slot 1 registers with the slot 1 as already described.

The stop-motion wheel F may be connected with any device or means having the function of opening the fluid-conduit, so as to pormit the fluid to flow into the meter. As shown, it is attached to and directly actuates the rotatable plug-cock casing F, and supposing the plug to be in position to cover the slot F it is obvious that the rotation of the casing will open this slot, moving it away from the cross-bar of the plug for a distance in the construction shown equal to one-tenth of the circumference of the plug. By then inserting another coin in the drum and operating as before described the slot maybe moved again away from the plug through an equal distance, and so on, the construction, as illustrated, permitting ten coins to be used consecutively before the stop-pin f on the rotatable casing comes in contact with the stop and anchoring-pin 91 on the worm-wheel G which provents further movement of the casing. The position of the cross-bar of the plug-cock with reference to the opening in the casingis at all times indicated by the relationship of the indicating and stop pin G to the numerals of the scale F The cock being opened, the gas or other fluid flows through the conduits E the hollow end of the plug, the chamber E and the conduit E into the meter, actuating the mechanism therein, which in turn sets in operation the worm O, which drives the shaft 0 and the gear-wheel O at its end. This gear wheel engaging both the gearwheels P and Q, as shown in Fig. 9, causes them .to revolve together, and also rotates the shaft 0 and through it and the worm O rotates the worm-wheel G and the plug-cock G, attached thereto, moving the cross-bar G2 toward the slot F of the casing F.

The mutilated gear wheel construction shown and invented by Mr. Green, as before mentioned, is for the purpose of permitting a change in the amount of gas necessary to move the plug-cock through a determined distance. Thus the parts being in the position shown in Figs. 9, 13, and 14 the two wheels Q, and P are rotated together, and the stops I and Q being in contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 14, the wheels continue to rotate together even after the mutilated portion Q of the wheel Q comes opposite to the gear-wheel C. When, however, in the rotation of the wheels the mutilated portion of the wheel P and the wheel P comes opposite to the mutilated portion P, the wheel P ceases to revolve until the revolution of the wheel Q brings the stop B into contact with the stop P when again the wheels resume their joint rotation until the mutilated portion Q of the Wheel Q again comes opposite to the gear wheel C whereupon the wheel Q remains stationary until the studs I and Q are again in contact, as shown in Fig. 1a. It will readily be seen, therefore, that by moving the stop-pin R the amount of fluid passing through the meter can be made to bear diiferent and any desired ratio to the movement of the plug-cock.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isr 1. A fluidconduit, a meter connected thereto and means for opening and closing the conduitin combination with mechanism actuated by the meter, tending to actuate said means to close the conduit, a slotted stop-motion wheel, as F having concave segmental facets between its slots arranged to act upon the means controlling the flow of fluid to open it, a manuallyoperated coacting drum, as I, adapted to fit in the concave facets of wheel F said drum being recessed on one side to clear said wheel and slotted to receive and hold a coin of proper size in position to form a tooth on the drum adapted to engage in a slot of and actuate the wheel F and a coinreceiver arranged to receive the coin from drum I after it has actuated the wheel F 2. A fluid-conduit, a meter connected thereto and means for opening and closing the conduitin combination with mechanism actuated by the meter tending to actuate said means to close the conduit, a slotted stop-motion wheel, as F having concave segmental facets between its slots arranged to act upon the means controlling the How of fiuid to open it, a manually-operated coacting drum, as I, adapted to fit in the concave facets of wheel F said drum being recessed on one side to clear said wheel and slotted to receive and hold a coin of proper size in position to form a tooth on the drum adapted to engage in a slot of and actuate the wheel F said slot having a prolongation of smaller size to eject coins of improper size, means for preventing the rotation of drum I in a reversed direction and a coin-receiver arranged to receive the coin from drum I after it has actuated the wheel F 3. A fluid-conduit, a meterconnected thereto and means for opening and closing the conduit,in combination with mechanism actuated by the meter tending to actuate said means to close the conduit, a slotted stop-motion wheel, as F having concave segmental facets between its slots arranged to act upon the means controlling the flow of fluid to open it, a manually-operated coacting drum, as I, adapted to fit in the concave facets of wheel F said drum being recessed on one side to clear said Wheel and slotted to receive and hold a coin of proper size in position to form a tooth on the drum adapted to engage in a slot of and actuate the wheel F said slot having a prolongation of smaller size to eject coins of improper size, means for preventing the rotation of drum I in a reversed direction, a coin-receiver arranged to receive the coin from drum I after it has actuated the wheel F and a fixed stop, as L, arranged to engage the coin and prevent the rotation of drum I in case the coin is not dropped into the receptacle.

4. A fluid-conduit, a meter connected thereto and means for opening and closing the conduit in combination with mechanism actuated by the meter tending to actuate said means to close the conduit, a slotted stop-motion wheel, as F having concave segmental facets between its slots arranged to act upon the means controlling the flow of fluid to open it, a manually-operated coacting drum, as 1, adapted to fit in the concave facets of wheel F said drum being recessed on one side to clear said wheel and slotted to receive and hold a coin of proper size in position to form a tooth on the drum adapted to engage in a slot of and actuate the wheel F said slot having a prolongation of smaller size to eject coins of improper size, means for preventing the rotation of drum I in a reversed direction, a stop device arranged to prevent forward rotation of the drum, means for moving said stop out of operative position actuated by a coin in the slot of the drum and a coin-receiver arranged to receive the coin from the drum after it has actuated the stop-wheel.

5. A fluid-conduit, a meter connected thereto and means for opening and closing the conduit in combination with mechanism actuated by the meter tending to actuate said means to close the conduit, a slotted stop-motion Wheel, as F having concave segmental facets between its slots arranged to act upon the means controlling the flow of fluid to open it, a manually-operated coacting drum, as I, adapted to fit in the concave facets of wheel F said drum being recessed on one side to clear said Wheel and slotted to receive and hold a coin of proper size in position to form a tooth on the drum adapted to engage in a slot of and actuate the wheel F said slot having a prolongation of smaller size to eject coins of improper size, means for preventing l jecting into groove I in position to engage the rotation of drum I in a reversed direction, a stop device arranged to prevent forward rotation of the drum, means for moving said stop out of operative position actuated by a coin in the slot of the drum, a coin-receiver arranged to receive the coin from the drum after it has actuated the stop-wheel, and a fixed stop, as L arranged to engage the coin and prevent the rotation of drum I in case the coin is not dropped into the receptacle.

6. In a prepayment-meter, the combination with a stop-motion wheel, as F arranged to open the fluid-conduit, of amanually-operated drum I having a circumferential groove I and oblique transverse coin-slot 1 adapted to hold a coin of proper size with its edge projecting into groove 1 in position to engage the notches in the stop-motion wheel and having a narrower prolongation whereby it rejects a coin of improper size, a ratchet-stop I for preventing motion of the drum in a reverse direction, a coin-receiver arranged to receive the coin from the drum after it has actuated the stop-Wheel and a fixed stop ex tending into groove 1 and acting to engage the coin and prevent rotation of the drum in case the coin is carried over the receiver.

7. In a prepayment-meter, the combination with a stop-motion wheel, as F, arranged to open the fluid-conduit, of a manually-operated drum I having a circumferential groove I and oblique transverse coin-slot 1 adapted to hold a coin of proper size with its edge prothe notches in the stop-motion wheel and having a narrower prolongation whereby it rejects a coin of improper size, a stop-perforation I extending from the groove I to the slot 1 a pin J J spring-supported in perforation I with its ends flush with the bottom of the groove and side of the slot and free to move into the slot, a spring-pawl having its end pressed against the bottom of groove I and adapted to engage perforation I, a ratchet-stop for preventing motion of the drum in a reverse direction and a coin-receiver arranged to receive the coin after it has actuated the stop-whee1.

8. In a prepayment-meter, the combination of the rotatable plug-cock casing F having a stop-motion wheel F secured to it, said wheel having symmetrically-disposed slots formed in its rim and concave segmental facets formed between said slots with a drum I adapted to fit in the concave facets of Wheel F and having a recessed portion adapted to clear said wheel and having a coin-slot arranged to retain a coin of proper size in position to engage and actuate the stop-motion wheel When the drum is rotated and a meteractuated plug-cock G working in the casing F as described.

WM. E. GIBBS.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. KNIGHT, J. GREEN. 

